The Sad Truth: Version 2.0

I agree your first article created healthy debate, it is one of those threads that evolved and was interesting to read. As far as alternative titles I suggest, 'Is education from an unknown online universitiy a barrier to employment in nursing academia?'

Dude. Maybe you blew the interview. Maybe they just had better qualified candidates. Maybe they just didn't like you. Maybe it was your online degree.You didn't get the job. We get that you need to process this, and welcome your need to vent, but now you're analyzing your analysis and being defensive. Some people just don't get the job! It happens.It is time to let it go. The time you're spending dissecting and deconstructing what happened could be better spent on your admission applications, researching programs, signing up for information sessions, and sharpening your stats skills, you're going to need them for that big fancy terminal degree you're gonna pursue!

I was one of the respondents who posted extensively in the OP's first piece on online nursing degrees. I'll repeat one of my responses for the sake of brevity.OP, you have been a tremendously good sport to withstand all of the criticism you've received up to this point. It is invigorating to encounter a poster who can disagree without being downright disagreeable, even in the face of much criticism. My advice is to hang in there because you have much to offer.

It is all fun and games. The hopes is to stimulate debate that is fun and informative. We have already established that my writing is poor for future reference. I did not even apply for the position at the school. I was close to one of the hiring board members and was told that the school would not hire me even if I applied. I have moved on from this experience and learned a tremendous amount about the snobbery that exists in some schools. It is interesting to note that my degree would allow me to lead a very lucrative career in hospital or long term care management, but it is not good enough to teach future nursing students at a local university. I have moved on, I promise. It is just an insight to my experience.

You've moved on? You've started a second thread to complain about responses you received on the first thread and to reiterate your belief that this experience constitutes "bullying." And all this is over a job you hadn't even applied for? I agree with mclennan -- it's (past) time to let this go and start focusing on something else. Best wishes!

Here's another honest question: your MSN coursework was online, but did you have in-person practicum hours in a classroom/clinical setting? If so, did you highlight that experience in your CV, resume, and interview? A B&M hiring committee might look at such a degree from an online school and think that your education might not be applicable to their setting if the majority of their courses are in-person.Also, McLennan made some very good points. The hiring process can be very subjective. The person doing the hiring might have been in a bad mood or just didn't like the color you were wearing or you remind her of her one niece that she doesn't get along with. Fair? Of course not. But it happens.

There is a small part of me that has not moved on. I guess it is just another obstacle in this thing we call life. I enjoy writing, even though I am bad at it! These articles are my thoughts and are an interesting way of expressing myself. Thank you for your comments!

Let me just throw this in there. It happens at all levels, not just with advanced degrees. There were many of us fortunate to be able to work as acute care lpn's in very small, rural facilities. Spent many, many years perfecting what was a really fine practice. Great evaluations. Cultivating practice with families, patients, at every stage of their lives. This is small, small town. The facility a holding area for more acute care.Then one day, the nurse snobs come along and the jobs are gone in a instant. And, not so surprisingly a real sigh and head shake on why we all just can't "get over it" already.A lesson in people who try to fix things that are not broken.In your case, OP, universities want their own alumni to teach their courses. It's like an exclusive club that unfortunately not everyone can join.Sorry that this has happened to you. Have you thought about going back to your alumnus and seeing if you can obtain a teaching position there?Best wishes going forward, and your underlying message resonates with any number of us---from the diploma prepared nurse beyond. It is a hard thing to describe, but I got your point.

This is good! Cue the lights and bring my popcorn. I love a fiery debate. Go get 'em canwil!

Debate or not, unless one has encountered this, it is hard to describe. The closest I can come to it is that say you are a BSN, and work in a general med/surg unit. You work hard, do what you can, etc. One day there is a change in management. That person comes along and says "starting next week, unless you have a master's degree, you will no longer have a job as my staffing plan is different, innovative, and what I want."Then 3/4 of your fellow nurses are gone. But, alas, you "should" be able to handle 8 patients on your own, no? (<----off subject, story for another thread).Back on topic. There's lots of ways that the powers that be manipulate staff in order to suit their monetary needs. This is such a newer theme. The patient is not the focus, even though they all have to act like they are--I swear if a nurse said "I love my job so much that I will work for min. wage" that then someone's educational status would not even be an issue. Educational Institutions are different in that they are mostly private, can and do exclusify their staffing, and can. Well, in all reality, facilities do that as well......

I have enjoyed your article and the debate. The same people always seem to get their panties in a wad over the superiority of the perfect terminal degree and how we should all obtain this or we are unmotivated unskilled peons. Bless their hearts.

I thought the original thread was a good read. It provided another experience of frustration that a fellow nurse had. It might have impacted other nurses to change their minds about a particular school to "attend" or change their ideas of where they will end up once they graduate. I know of plenty of schools that hire BSNs to teach ADN & LPN programs. We all know that there are schools out there who have the "highest of standards" when it comes to staff. However their football players get away with rape or a student dies, the family gets paid off and all is forgiven by the community. I trust most higher education institutions as far as I can throw their buildings. They are just another business looking to make a profit. I will attend to better myself, shoot I will even teach, but I won't let them bring me down or make me feel like I am less because my ACCREDITED college does not meet their standards. Their loss not mine.